As you know, I’ve been home with friends and family recovering from abdominal surgery to remove a pesky fibroid (myomectomy) that sort of died inside of me and was wrecking undo havoc in my life.

I’m getting stronger and feeling better every day and today I’m strong enough to write (not ready for video though) and I wanted to share here some of the alternative holistic treatments I’m doing from home to help speed my recovery.

My Diet

Major surgery that requires full anesthesia shuts down your system for hours and it could take much longer for those systems to wake up. Since we now know that digestion is at the cornerstone or your health and immunity, it is key that my diet is easy to digest, properly combined (to avoid constipation, indigestion, gas, bloating) and densely nourishing. Some of the things I’m eating include:

Kitchari – an Ayurvedic meal made with basmati rice and mung daal (yellow split peas)

Green Smoothies – Loaded with greens and fruit

Veggie Juices – A staple in my diet for yearsbutternut squash11

Hearty Soups – lentil soup, butternut squash and root vegetable soups are my favorites

Acai Bowls – high anti oxidant content and really comforting and yummy.
The idea is to keep my digestion smooth and flowy and avoid the crazy constipation often associated with anesthesia and the pain medications.

 

My Supplements

The supplements I’m taking in the days and weeks after my surgery were suggested by my Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic practitioners and are designed to help the body reduce inflammation, prevent infection and purify the blood. Here are some of the things I’m taking:

Aloe Vera – awesome tonic to the reproductive system, digestive system and bladder

Oil of Oregano – powerful antibiotic, taken only for 5 days after surgery to prevent infections

Liquid Chlorophyll – a blood builder and purifier, taken as I had uterine surgery and had some blood losssurgery post 2

Aromatherapy – amazing to help manage discomfort, pain and energize your chakras (the amazing scents also make you feel really great)!

 

My Teas

Herbs have amazing medicinal properties and can help your body feel whole and energized without side effects. Here are the teas I’m taking while I recover:

Ginger – perfect to reduce inflammation in the belly, soothe your stomach and restore digestion

Fennel, Coriander, Cumin – this is a traditional Ayurvedic blend that also heals digestion, allowing you to prevent gas/bloating and helping you absorb nutrients more efficiently.

Red Raspberry Leaf – This plant is traditionally used to strengthen the womb and reproductive system in general. It was recommended to me by a friend who is also a doula.

Turmeric Tea – highly anti-inflammatory, from the first time I took it I started to feel the inflammation in the wound area start to decrease.

 

Alternative Treatments

I follow some of the principles of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda in my practice with clients and on myself. Surgery recover is no different. For my recovery, I’m using 2 specific treatments not very well known in the Western world but that people in Asia have been using effectively for hundreds of years.

Shilajit – A resin common in part of northern India and Asia known for its ability to accelerate and improve regeneration of tissue faster, making the healing process shorter and more effective. It is also known as an adaptogen, helping you cope with stress easier.

If you’d like to know more about it Click Here!

Moxi (or Moxabustion) – An herbal remedy commonly used in Chinese medicine used to increase circulation to a healing wound area or an area with inflammation, reducing inflammation almost immediately and speeding up the healing process. I plan on creating a video showing you how it’s done in the next week or so.

Tender, Loving, Care

And last but not least, TLC. Between mommy feet massages, sister feeding soups and friends bringing me an occasional coconut ice cream, I am blessed to have an incredible family and circle of friends. I amassed a small army of loving souls that without hesitation volunteered to help me in the first few weeks after surgery. I’m also sharing some of my process on social media to keep in touch with the outside world and in hopes that this experience can help others recover faster and better. surgery post 1

You can check out my Instagram and Twitter posts or follow me on Facebook to learn more!

 

I’ll be spending the next few weeks resting comfortably at home, allowing my mind to be present and working on a couple of amazing projects that will be birthed in early 2015.

I hope to share them with you very soon!